RE: [Unschooling-dotcom]problem with my 9yo ds.....
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>so, what happens if you are homeschooling a high school student... with noI was self educating myself beginning when I was 14. I never did learn algebra in school. I struggled, but my mind was poisoned from years of institutional settings and bad associations with math. I finally learned some algebra (although math is still not my favorite) in college. They do teach it there, for those who need it.
>math background except what they've learned on their own... and they want to
>go back to high school or on to higher education... at that point they would
>learn the math they need?
>jeanne
Nanci K.
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Hi guys!
I think one of the main reasons I took my daughter out of school after 2nd
grade is that I saw my inquisitive, motivated, life-loving child start
avoiding reading, writing and anything which could be construed as learning.
My daughter kept asking why she had to learn that stuff. She's very strong
willed and persistent. Every single homework assignment it seemed she would
ask, "Why do I have to do this?" Respnding,"Because you have to" got really
old after a while. Part of me wished she would just go with the program and
stop thinking for herself!!!! (uuuggh) But that's just not her (thank God)
This was our first year unschooling and I can't seem to bring myself to use
any of the 'worksheet' books I purchased when we first started. It just
doesn't fit for me to use something which has no context, or meaning behind
it. I know that if she finds a need to go to college she will find the means
to learn what she needs to know. She is extremely resourseful. And yes, it
does take some trust. But I know that for right now it is working for us.
(We do 'games' and some computer programs, and 'life' problems, but so far
haven't done any 'sit down' math, she's 9)
I also know I was completely incompetent in high school, and that when I
went to college 10 years later, my gpa was a 4.0. Mostly it was because I
wanted to be there. I still didn't believe memorizing was 'learning', but it
was mine, with no one telling me I had to go. I think my daughter has some
of that rebelliousness in her. Like any quality, it seems at times it can be
a great blessing, and at others a disadvantage.
I have to add this, an excerpt from "The Schools Our Children Deserve" by
Alphie Kohn
"...studies can be cited to prove that the Old School [standardized testing,
repetetive drills, etc] is successful. But here's the catch: success can be
claimed only by those who don't care about the three other goals: (a) long-ter
m retention of these facts or skills, (b) a real understanding of ideas,
along with critical thinking, creativity, the capacity to apply skills to
different kinds of tasks, and other more sophisticated intellectual outcomes,
or (c) students' interest in what they're doing, and the likelihood that
they'll come away with a continuing motivation to learn."
Looove this book :-)
Blessings all,,,,,Jennifer
I think one of the main reasons I took my daughter out of school after 2nd
grade is that I saw my inquisitive, motivated, life-loving child start
avoiding reading, writing and anything which could be construed as learning.
My daughter kept asking why she had to learn that stuff. She's very strong
willed and persistent. Every single homework assignment it seemed she would
ask, "Why do I have to do this?" Respnding,"Because you have to" got really
old after a while. Part of me wished she would just go with the program and
stop thinking for herself!!!! (uuuggh) But that's just not her (thank God)
This was our first year unschooling and I can't seem to bring myself to use
any of the 'worksheet' books I purchased when we first started. It just
doesn't fit for me to use something which has no context, or meaning behind
it. I know that if she finds a need to go to college she will find the means
to learn what she needs to know. She is extremely resourseful. And yes, it
does take some trust. But I know that for right now it is working for us.
(We do 'games' and some computer programs, and 'life' problems, but so far
haven't done any 'sit down' math, she's 9)
I also know I was completely incompetent in high school, and that when I
went to college 10 years later, my gpa was a 4.0. Mostly it was because I
wanted to be there. I still didn't believe memorizing was 'learning', but it
was mine, with no one telling me I had to go. I think my daughter has some
of that rebelliousness in her. Like any quality, it seems at times it can be
a great blessing, and at others a disadvantage.
I have to add this, an excerpt from "The Schools Our Children Deserve" by
Alphie Kohn
"...studies can be cited to prove that the Old School [standardized testing,
repetetive drills, etc] is successful. But here's the catch: success can be
claimed only by those who don't care about the three other goals: (a) long-ter
m retention of these facts or skills, (b) a real understanding of ideas,
along with critical thinking, creativity, the capacity to apply skills to
different kinds of tasks, and other more sophisticated intellectual outcomes,
or (c) students' interest in what they're doing, and the likelihood that
they'll come away with a continuing motivation to learn."
Looove this book :-)
Blessings all,,,,,Jennifer